MOP
Ministry of Petroleum
South Sudan

About the Ministry

Ministry Background

In 1972, war between North and South Sudan came to an end and an agreement called "ADISS ABABA AGREEMENT" was reached. This resulted to a formation of an autonomous government for Southern Sudan called High Executive Council with its Regional Ministries in which Industry and Mining was one of them. However, Industry and Mining began as part of Regional Ministry of Finance and later became party of Ministry of Commerce and Supply in 1974. However, in 1979 the Regional Ministry of Industry and Mining was created.

The new Ministry was operating under two laws early enacted by Central government. These laws are:

  • A. The Mines and quarries Act (1972) and its Regulations (1973). This Act regulates the Mining and quarrying in the Sudan.
  • B. The Encouragement of Investment Act (1980). This is a general Legislation which covers investment in all economic sectors.

The mandate of the Ministry was than to establish Public industries and to overseer and regulates private Sector in both Mining and Industrial Sector. As time went by, it was realized that the budget prepared by the new Ministry could not be implemented since no enough cash flow was coming from the North to South.

The new Regional Ministry of Industry and Mining turn to issue Licenses to investors in an attempt to encourage them to open private industries. This did not work either, because Licenses were taken and no one would return to invest in the South. It was later discovered that Licenses were used for clearing customs duties of their own goods to be invested in the North.

The CPA. After almost two years of intensive negotiations under the auspices of IGAD and Friends of IGAD, the GoS and SPLM/A signed the Naivasha Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the 9th of January, 2005 in Nairobi. The implementation of CPA Commenced with the swearing in of late – General/Dr. John Garang de Mabior the leader as the 1st Vice/President of the Sudan, and President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) in the Republican Palace – Khartoum on the 9th of July, 2005. The sudden and tragic death of Dr. John Garang on 30th July 2005 brought in his Deputy leader of the SPLM/A General Salva Kiir Mayardit, as his successor.

The GoSS. H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, 1st V/President of the Republic of the Sudan and President of the GoSS, issued the Presidential Decree Number 015/2005 dated 22nd October 2005 appointing Advisers to the President of the GoSS and 22 Ministers of the GoSS including the V/President of the GoSS. The Governors of the Ten (10) States were also confirmed.

The Ministry. During the Administration of the CCSS, this Ministry was a part and parcel of the Ministry of ‘Industry, Mining, Commerce, Trade and Supplies. But, because of the civil war by then, the functions of Industry and Mining were redundant. Born again in October 2005 as a separate Ministry of the GoSS, it has no adequate.

The work force of the Ministry including the managerial and technical staff has to be recruited anew from Diaspora and different parts of the Sudan – from among the displaced Southern population.

Structure

Our Mission

To ensure that MOP regulated facilities and activities are safe and secure, that the environment surrounding these facilities and activities is protected throughout their life-cycle.


Vision

To ensure that Petroleum activities are managed and developed in a way that contributes fully to economic development and human prosperity is ethical, efficient, transparent, accountable and according to environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable principles.

Core Values

Good governance and leadership, professionalism, innovation, team work and collective responsibility and commitment to services.

Functions of Ministry of Petroleum

The primary responsibility of the MOP is to act on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to:

  1. 1. Formulates policy and set strategies, plans and programs for the development and management of the petroleum sector;
  2. 2. Proposes legislation and develop regulations;
  3. 3. Negotiate and enter into petroleum agreements and Issue petroleum licenses;
  4. 4. Regulates the petroleum sector;
  5. 5. Manages the relations between the Government and the petroleum companies, including the Government’s national companies;
  6. 6. Enhances and further develop the necessary technical capacity and competence;
  7. 7. Provides for midstream and downstream activities including the development, construction and financing of midstream transportation, refining and processing infrastructure and the sale of crude oil;
  8. 8. Initiates and coordinates with other relevant ministries and bodies as follows:
    • i. The conduct of Environmental and Social Impacts Assessments (ESIAs) with the Ministry of Environment;
    • ii. Allocation and manages, and invest petroleum revenues with the Ministry of Finance;
    • iii. Develop rules and regulations to be approved by the Council of Ministers;
    • iv. Review of occupational health and safety standards for the sector with the Ministry of Labor;